WA: Lucky escape for fishermen stranded at sea

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2003
WA: Lucky escape for fishermen stranded at sea

PERTH, Dec 24 AAP - Two men who sparked a massive search after they went missing at
sea off Western Australia's northern coast could be charged after their leaky boat ran
aground.

The men, aged 19 and 20, are due to be questioned by police later today after they
stumbled ashore at Cossack, almost 1,600km north of Perth, this morning.

The pair, from Wickham, had been on a fishing expedition, but were stranded after the
motor on their dinghy broke down.

They were reported missing at 7pm yesterday, prompting a search involving several boats
and a spotter plane.

After becoming grounded this morning, they walked about 10km to alert authorities.

WA police said the boat in which they set out to sea was badly maintained, with no
means of emergency communication and insufficient safety equipment.

Officers will now seek advice from the state's Department of Planning and Infrastructure
to determine if charges will be laid over the condition of the boat and its equipment.

AAP tc/tma/br

KEYWORD: DINGHY

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.